Sat 18 Feb 2023
Bridgnorth welcomed Oundle to the Edgar Davies Ground with the two sides being in different halves of the table but Oundle having won their home fixture against Bridgnorth in November. With a dry forecast and the pitch again looking in magnificent condition the afternoon looked set for a great game of rugby. The match started with Elliot Murphy back at fly-half and he started the game well with an excellent penalty punt kick to the corner but Bridgnorth were unable to win their own lineout.
The game was then played in the middle third of the field as the referee awarded a series of penalties to the away side. Bridgnorth scored the game’s first try from a five-metre lineout. With a training ground move, Connor Nicholls caught the opposition napping and tapped the ball back to George Newman for the lineout thrower to dive over the line, (the referee kindly ducking out of the way of the ball.) Elliot Murphy kicked the conversion.
Oundle responded well and a series of good attacks finished with their scrum-half peeling around the back of a maul for an unconverted try. Bridgnorth replied three minutes later after their own series of driving phases, Will Bishop sent out a long pass to the left and Adam Ellis picked up the bouncing ball to cross for the try, converted by Murphy. Oundle again attacked well and set up their own penalty lineout to the corner however great defence by the home side (with Ben Rochelle to the fore) kept the away side out.
Bridgnorth then attacked and after an excellent clearance by Murphy, TJ Ajuchi made a great break, the attack was continued but then unfortunately a pass from scrum-half Gareth Bladen hit the referee and the game was called back for a scrum to the home side. Bridgnorth attacked again and kicked a penalty to the corner. It was then flanker Loti Molitika’s turn to score the try, Elliot Murphy with an excellent conversion.
Oundle restarted the game and in a phase of the game which requires attention by Bridgnorth, the away side were able to reclaim their own kick. Bridgnorth are secure under the restart kicks but vulnerable to the opposition sending forward a runner to tap the ball back to their teammates. Bridgnorth defended well with Morgan French matching his second row colleague with some great tackling. Oundle were awarded a penalty and ran it quickly and back row Luis Evitt was given a yellow card for tackling the player without retreating the ten metres. Oundle continued to attack but Bridgnorth held them up over the line, a good dropout clearance by Murphy closed out the first half with the score 21-5.
The second half started with number eight Connor Nicholls being given a yellow card after he was harshly adjudged to have late tackled the opposition fly-half. Oundle, now playing against thirteen men, worked the ball to their right wing and they scored an unconverted try. The Oundle attacks continued but the customary solid Bridgnorth ‘D’ kept them out. Bridgnorth applied themselves very well for the next period of the game, good tactical kicking and a series of penalties against Oundle enabled them to survive the two sin bins.
Connor Nicholls returned to the field and the ten minute rest obviously served him well as he won the next lineout and then made a great run over the line for an unconverted try. The wind unfortunately rose just as the conversion attempt was kicked. There then followed two tries in quick succession, Oundle scoring a converted try after a penalty kick to the corner and then Nicholls again showed excellent pace and acceleration to race over the line for his second try, this time converted by Murphy.
The game entered its closing stages with neither side being able to establish clear momentum. Bridgnorth then won a penalty and kicked the ball to six metres for the lineout. A good lineout routine saw the home pack drive over the line to the delight of the home support, new recruit at hooker Nick Selway grounded the ball for the try, converted by Murphy.
Oundle attacked until the final whistle but Bridgnorth held out, the score at the end of the game was 40-17. Bridgnorth have their third home game in a row next week as they host Burton. The away side always pose a strong threat with their running game.
Match Photos Taken by Robert Nicholls (BRFC Facebook Page) - CLICK HERE
Match Photos Taken by Dave Cooper (BRFC Facebook Page) - CLICK HERE
